Mac's Layup Drill: Staten Island basketball trio working in France

Advance file photoFormer Curtis HS and Wagner College forward Nigel Wyatte is one of three Staten Islanders playing pro basketball in France.

We know the world is shrinking more and more every day, but no one ever thought it would come to this:

Three Island basketball players, who grew up 15 minutes apart, are now competing against one another in the same league in ... France.

Which is not a bad option in these tough economic times, wouldn’t you say, for 20-somethings recently out of school without any other pressing matters on their plates?

Former Notre Dame star Kyle McAlarney (Moore Catholic) is just back playing for Limoges after a few weeks off with a broken bone in his foot. Recent Siena grad Ryan Rossiter (Monsignor Farrell), perhaps the best big man in Saints history, has signed on with a team in Denain.

Nigel Wyatte, who starred at Wagner College following his days at Curtis HS, has played several seasons in the French League, and currently is the centerpiece big man for Le Portel.

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I know that money’s tight, and that he is not what you’d call an ideal team centerpiece.

But, when healthy, Jose Reyes is still this generation’s answer to Rickey Henderson.

The 28-year-old four-time All Star changes games with his legs and his bat.

And the Mets need his zip at the top of an otherwise very drab lineup.

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Just when you thought the suits who are hell-bent on destroying college sports couldn’t get any more geographically absurd, rumors surface that the Big East wants to bring Boise State and Air Force into their football league.

I’m willing to bet 50 percent of the current conference football coaches couldn’t find Boise on a map.

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Big Papi wants to come to the Bronx? Please, not with a weight clause in the contract!

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The Red Sox mess is actually a learning moment for folks who want to take one side or the other in the whole drama.

Here is the bottom line to it all, and something fans would do well to embrace:

The collapse and unseemly aftermath at Fenway is everyone’s fault and no one’s fault.

For starters, Terry Francona is obviously a good baseball man who led Boston to two titles. He was also paid very well for the work he did.

John Henry is an owner who has a right to spend his money in any way he wishes. He may even be a meddling, obnoxious guy, for all I know. But plenty of people are.

The Red Sox players are highly compensated professional athletes who are supposed to play hard until the final out of the season, though it doesn’t always work that way.

In two words, stuff happens.

But don’t worry.

No one lost their home or their savings or the money to send their kids to school.

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The whole Rex Ryan/Jets experiment is beginning to take on that shabby reality-TV look again, isn’t it?